STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A critical issue that was brought to light in our recent in-depth report on a crisis in intellectual/developmental disabilities community focused on the low pay and practical challenges those who work in the field face as a result.

The "Dignity in Danger" project revealed the desperate need for more housing options and the effect of dwindling funds for trained staff and programming.

While housing is the pressing immediate and long-term concern, the salary dilemma faced by these workers is a significant piece of the complex puzzle.

A growing and bipartisan wave of support within the Legislature to get the state to help fund a "living wage" for direct care workers is a promising development in Albany and we're hoping the governor gets it.

Advocates for the intellectually and developmentally disabled community have been rallying across the state as part of the #bFair2DirectCare campaign, asking Gov. Andrew Cuomo to allocate money to Medicaid so the non-profit organizations that employ them can pay a livable wage.

A majority in the Assembly and nearly half in the Senate have written letters in support of adding $45 million to the state budget to help fund higher pay for direct care workers.

Staten Island Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis and state Sen. Diane Savino are two of those vocal advocates who sent letters and have put the inequity in stark, hard-hitting terms:

"There's something really wrong when we're saying somebody who works part-time at McDonalds will be earning more than somebody who is highly trained and skilled and providing direct care," said Malliotakis.

"I have stated repeatedly that it is unconscionable that we equate this (direct care) work as minimum wage work," Savino said.

That pretty much sums it up.

Approving the wage hike would be the first step of a six-year commitment by the state to increase pay for workers who are passionate and deserve it.

Our "Dignity in Danger" project included interviews with direct care workers who have to hold second and even third jobs so they can continue to care for the clients they are deeply devoted to and still make ends meet.

Given the training they have and the critical services they provide, that pay is paltry.

Take one of the examples we profiled:

Joanna is a residential habilitation counselor also works as a special education teacher support service provider.

While Joanna chose not to share her exact yearly salary from either job, she said the BLS median salary amount isn't "too far off."

"Initially, I wanted to work full-time as an RHC, but I couldn't afford to live," Joanna told our reporter Kristin Dalton.

"It's tough when you love your job and want to do nothing else but that one job; a job that you went through tons of schooling for; put in hundreds of hours volunteering, advocating, everything, and you have to give it up or focus on something else because it doesn't pay the bills," she said.

"I can't stress how much I love my job(s) and my kids (the students and individuals she works with), but I'm exhausted. The jobs don't end when I leave (at the end of the day)."

She's required to fill out a number of forms to help provide information to the Home Care Department and Department of Education, maintain client files with plan of care and progress reports, fill out daily service records and other time-consuming forms.

The flood of letters from both side of the aisles appeal to Cuomo for that $45 million commitment when he releases his 30-day amendments to his 2017-18 budget proposal that are due soon.

In the letters, the lawmakers warn that "highly skilled" direct care workers are leaving the field a growing rate because the state's non-profit providers cannot offer them competitive pay.

Most make between $10 and $13 an hour while providing "life preserving support" for one of our most vulnerable populations, letters state.

Rallies have been held across the state, including on Staten Island, begging Cuomo to increase state funding.

The letters echo what advocates, parents and providers on Staten Island say they've been begging Cuomo to do for years.

"We urge you to add additional funding in next year's Executive Budget to provide a pay increase to direct care workers for the disabled. New York needs to recognize the important service these workers perform. No worker should receive a minimum wage for a job that requires maximum support."

More than a year ago, members of the Staten Island Developmental Disabilities Council (SIDDC), parents and advocates rallied at the offices of borough Senate and Assembly offices, urging pressure on Cuomo to allocate funding for resources, housing, programming and to offset the cost of the minimum wage increase.

These passionate and committed professionals who strive to improve the lives those who are among the most vulnerable members of our community not only require it, but deserve it.

Dignity in Danger is the Advance's depth report on the crisis of care facing Staten Island's developmentally disabled. View the full package.